My XS11SF newly aquired!

[Crazy Damian]

Had motorcycles for years this is by far the largest i have owned, all my other bikes have been 250's - 750's.

Was talking to some of my customers a few weeks ago and kept telling them to let me know if they knew anyone with an old beater I could get cheap as a fix-her-upper and was able to get this diamond in the rough for $200, with a clean title. I was assured by my customer who was the previous owner that it was running on the street in 2006 by him and his buddy who I bought it off of rode it up until last year when the starter button quit working, needless to say but $200 was worth getting the frame and title alone so I jumped all over it.

Stock exhause has been drilled out in the back, supposedly the top end had been rebuilt by the owner previously to my customer and had been bored over so it's bigger than 1106cc not sure how much bigger though. side covers were missing and as you can see in the pics it had a duct taped king and queen seat with a huge sissy bar, other than that everything looked stock. They said one of the carbs was leaking gas, so the gas tank was bone dry, that was probably a good thing because after taking a look in it I don't think I will do anything to it, took off the carbs and lightly cleaned them with a little gumout and re-plumbed the fuel and vacum system. had to use a grinder to get that ugly seat and sissy bar off. I'm going to be making a cafe bike out of it, too hard to find all stock and make it look great stock plus I wanna give it a mild custom look. Cranked it up for the first time today and everything on the motor appears to be running and working fine. I still have to replace the intake rubbers as they are really rough. The brake system is the next thing I will be working on and then I will take it for a test spin. I'm gonna have to get a new fuse box for it as the previous owner did a number on the wiring.

Left side Picture



Right Side Picture



Here are a couple of videos I took after the first start, this morning.

http://www.drcpc.com/xs1100/xs1100sf_vid-1.mp4

http://www.drcpc.com/xs1100/xs1100sf_vid-2.mp4

1979 XS1100SF Manufactured 2/79

[crazy steve]

... I'm going to be making a cafe bike out of it, too hard to find all stock and make it look great stock plus I wanna give it a mild custom look. Cranked it up for the first time today and everything on the motor appears to be running and working fine. I still have to replace the intake rubbers as they are really rough. The brake system is the next thing I will be working on and then I will take it for a test spin. I'm gonna have to get a new fuse box for it as the previous owner did a number on the wiring...

Typical PO issues....

Shoot, you're only missing a few bits; seat, sidecovers and grab bar, and while they won't fall into your lap, they're not impossible to find. Otherwise, that's a pretty unmolested bike in terms of what's there.

Do yourself a favor and go completely through the carbs, brakes, and wiring. Check/adjust the valves. You'll end up doing these things anyway, save yourself the frustration of 'getting it running' as-is, then having to return to all these at some point when it breaks down.

For $200 running and with a title, you stole it....

[BA80]

Nice lookin' 79. Lot's of potential there.

That's the same seat and bar setup I have. and I don't think it's ugly.



Besides, look what it's good for when you take a trip.

[Crazy Damian]

Your seat looks good, but mine was 70% Duct Tape and 20% Rust lol.

Update on the brakes. I took off both fron calipers and opened up the front master cylinder, all I can say is uhg, plus the right side front disk looked like it was touching the right tube, so I'm planning a complete overhaul of the brake systems, any ideas on swaping out a front brake master cylinder but keeping the stock brake calipers? I saw the posts about changing the calipers but I wanna try to keep them if possible, but I would really like a much newer brake lever/master cyliner assy. plus I plan on putting all braided SS brake lines on too.

[James England]

Check your rear left side wheel bearing!!!

As a new owner, you may be unaware of the amusing, forum-specific word 'unobtanium'..... I'm sure someone will elaborate .....

[BA80]

Your seat looks good, but mine was 70% Duct Tape and 20% Rust lol.

So was mine when I first got it. As long as the pan is good it can be repaired.

Yeah, Take all the brake componants apart and clean them. You can usually get away with just cleaning the corrosion out from behind the seals and getting the gunk out of the calipers but I would recommend kits for the master cylinders.

Be sure the pedal for the rear brake is moving freely in the tube the actuator shaft runs through in the frame.

On another subject. Be sure the steering head bearings ar not sticky or rough at all either. Otherwise when you ride it you'll be thinking "this thing handles terrable".

[James England]

I'd check/replace the swingarm bearings too. They're often neglected...

[madmax-im]

If your planning to cafe' the bike as you stated... pls dont cut the frame or rear shocks out to hardtail...big safety issues there and ofc you'll bang the crap outta yur tailbone...if you bring it back to original or close to original condition...theres better chance you'll enjoy it for the highway as well as locally...just depends upon your mission...BTW thats an enviable find @ $200...you dont wanna know what i paid for mine...Welcome to the forum too.

[Crazy Damian]

Well my plan (at the moment) is to leave it as stock as possible but giving it a cafe look. so once all the mechanics are checked, fixed and rebuilt, then the only major change I am planning on isthe addition of a cafe fairing/windshield on the front, cooler looking seat, either drag bars or clubman bars and a 4 into 1 exhaust, I am definetly NOT going to hardtail this bike, I value my kidneys too much. I guess what I'm looking to do is a late 70's cafe style.
I would leave the exhaust but the mufflers are totally shot.

[jetmechmarty]

Rearsets are available for that thing. I think you're what they call a 1982 XS1100S.

Fast From the Past


Tarozzi

It would look pretty sharp with a cafe style seat on it.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Crazy Damian,

Check out www.mikesxs.net they sell NEW replacement front master cylinders that will fit. You'll want the 16mm unit, larger capacity for the dual calipers. Hopefully you've noticed that the Specials use those funky slanted pads with the swivelly caliper. Yes, SS lines are the way to go, along with the newer MC...and it will be more flat/level for fitting onto your bars vs. the Special's buckhorns. Yep, you want to be able to STOP that heavy beast before you get it going.

I resell a replacement fuseblock for these that uses the newer solid atco style fuses....see the For Sale Forum, Parts, Parts and services by members sticky thread, scroll down and you'll find the advert and payment info.
I'm expecting my next batch order to arrive any day now.

The aftermarket production for these bikes have dried up a bit especially with regards to exhaust pipes, the only company still making them are MAC, and you can find a 4-1 by them. Other options are much more expensive. You might get lucky and find someting on eBay.

Also, fix the carbs..they are prone to leaking if the float needle valves stick or get dirty, then you get fuel overflowing often into the engine, and down into the oil...not good!

Great find and price!

[natemoen]

Check out T99ford's posts. He does amazing work and had a xs11 and xs650 (i think it was a 650) that he did cafe style that were awesome!

[CaptonZap]

And please, don't throw away the old exhaust system.
There are people here who can resuscitate those rusted out systems.
CZ

[mharrington]

Damien- a tastefull clean customization is always nice- and FUN!! Her is my 1980 XS650 Special BEFORE:


Here it is thus far. Not a tracker but a tracker seat, small indicators- white letter tires ect.


Take your time. A cafe theme is retro cool and probably cheaper to do than aquiring OEM parts.

[Crazy Damian]

Update on my progress.

here is an update on what I have done so far.
Changed the oil.
Fixed my brake problem by just cleaning everything.
Had a issue with the calipers but it turned out I needed to remove the innner seal and clean the corrosion out from behind it then lubed everything and put it all back together and everything works as it is supposed to.
The brake disk rubbing on the front turned out to be someone tightened up the front axle nut BEFORE tightening the right side of the axle, was an easy fix.
Cut off rusted out mufflers at the base but left the headers intact, going to look for a set of harley take-offs, seems the best bang for the buck since you can get a set of harley take-offs for under $100
used a wire brush to take of a lot of rust.
Looks like I actually may be able to put this thing on the road this summer.

Finish rewiring the new fuse box
Gotta get 2 new tires.
Fabricate Seat and Tail piece.
Replace handlebars (Still havent made up my mind yet about drag or Clubman)
Replace clutch handle (works, just want it to look and feel better)
Install LED Turn Signals.

I was able to take it out on a local strecth of road by my house today for a short road test, and all I have to say is this bike is scary quick, can't imagine what it will be like when I am finished but if today is any indication it's going to be awesome.

Damian